Journal-box for cars.



T. SMITH. JOURNAL BOX FOR GARS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 30, 1912.

1,060,956, Patented May 6, 1913.

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Witnesses lnvent'or vAttor'ne'ys UNITED srnrns rnirnnr OFFICE.

THOMAS SMITH, OF SAN LUIS POTOSI, MEXICO, ASSIGNOR, OF ONE-HALF TOGEORGE T.

SHARPTON, OF SAN LUIS POTOSI, MEXICO.

JOURNAL-BOX FOR CARS.

Application filed January 30, 1912.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that'I, THOMAS SMITH, a citizen of the United States,residing at San Luis Potosi, country of Mexico, have invented a new anduseful J ournal-Box for Cars, of which the following is a specification.

One object of the present invention is to provide a means for movingtransversely, the lid of a journal box, so that the lid will be pressedagainst the journal box, thereby holding the lid dust tight against thebox, and preventing a rattling of the lid when a car or other vehicle isin motion.

A further object of the invention is to provide a lid-retaining means ofthe type hereinbefore mentioned, which means will also be effective, forretaining against displacement, the wedge whereby the bearings in whichthe axle rotates, are held with respect to the box to which the lid isapplied.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this type,the lid-holding means of which is so disposed that either the lid or thejournal box, at Wlll, may be planed ofi smoothly, thereby to effect adust tight joint, when the lid is actuated to a closed position.

lVith the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the combination andarrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the preciseembodiment of invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope ofwhat is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings,F1gure 1 shows the invention in frontelevation; Fig. 2 is a vertical section; Fig. 3 is a vertical sectionshowing the lid swung into an open position; Fig. i is a detailperspective of the movable member which is carried by the lid, for thepurpose of maintaining the lid closed, and for the purpose of holdingthe bearing-retaining wedge in place; Fig. 5 is a fragment-a1perspective of the lid; and Fig. 6 is a fragmental perspective of thebox.

In the drawings, the numeral 1 denotes generally, a journal box,provided at its upper, outer edges, with upstanding lugs 2. In each ofthe lugs 2, and upon the inner face of each lug, a slot is formed, thesame Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 6, 1913.

Serial No. 674,329.

consisting of an entering channel 3, and a receiving channel 4, thechannels 3 and 4: being angularly disposed, and the channel 4 slantingtoward the face of the journal box 1. At the angle defined by thechannels 3 and 1, and opposite the apex of the said angle, a lateralpocket 5 is formed, having, at its lower edge, a depressed seat 6.

The opening in the journal box 1 is denoted generally by the numeral 7.This opening 7 may be disposed in any desired manner, the opening, inthe present instance, although not necessarily, being verticallypositioned. A lid, denoted generally by the numeral 8 is provided, thesame constituting a closure for the opening 7. The lid 8 is equippedadjacent its lower edge, with laterally outstanding grips 9. Extendedacross the lid, 8, in the vicinity of'the upper edge thereof, is anoutstanding reinforcement 10, having at its ends ears 11 which projectoutwardly, at right angles to the plane of the lid 8. Projecting fromthe ears 11, parallel to the plane of the lid 8, are bearings 12.

Upon the inner face of the lid 8 are formed a pair of brackets or lugs,denoted, respectively, by the numerals 14 and 15. A movable member,denoted generally by the numeral 16, is mounted to slide in the brackets14: and 15, parallel to the lid 8. The movable member includes a stem 17which is slidably received within the bracket 14, and an enlarged head18, which is slidably received within the bracket 15. The head 18 isequipped, terminally, with a rectangularly disposed foot 19. In the head18 there is a slot 20, and through this slot 20 extends a pin 21 orother retaining member, the pin 21 being engaged with the bracket 15.Spring means is provided for thrusting the movable memberlongitudinally, so that the foot 19 will bear against the under face ofthe top of the journal box 1. The spring means may be of any desiredform. In the present instance, the same consists of a rethe lid 8 beingmoved transversely, so as to press tightly against the journal box 1,thereby effecting a dust-tight closure of the opening 7. The spring 22will also exert a thrust against the head 18, causing the foot 19 tobear against the under face of the top of the journal box 1, as must benecessary, if the lid 8 is to be moved downwardly by the action of thespring 22, and if the lid is to be moved transversely, through thecooperation between the bearing 12 and the receiving channel 4.

\Vhile the lid 8 is being swung toward a horizontal position, the spring22 will be put under compression, the spring thrusting against the lug14c and causing the lid, when the lower, free edge thereof is elevated,to move outwardly, due to the thrust of the part 19 against the top ofthe box 1, whereupon the bearing 12 will move into the pocket 5. Thelid, thereupon, may be swung over, upon top of the journal box 1, asclearly indicated in Fig. 3.

A means is provided for preventing the bearing 12 from moving out of theentering portion 3 of the slot, this means preferably taking the form ofa pin 21, inserted through the lug 2,,and entering the portion 3 of theslot, the element 2 1 obviously preventing the bearing 12 from movingout of the portion 3 of the slot.

From the foregoing it will be seen that when the lid is swung into aclosed position, as shown in Fig. 2, the lid, by the action of thespring 22, and through the coiiperation of the elements 12 and t, willbe moved transversely, to effect a dust-tight closure of the opening 7.It is to be noted, referring particularly to Fig. 2, that the outer faceof the box 1 is unencumbered, the construction being such that the outerface of the box may be planed off, to effect a dust-tight union with thelid 8.

The numeral 23 indicates a wedge which is employed for retaining thebearings of the axle which rotates in the box. This wedge 23,hereinafter referred to as the be'aringholder, is a common and wellknown element in car equipment, and a specific delineation of thebearings which the wedge 23 retains, is unnecessary. It is to be notedthat when the parts are positioned as shown in Fig. 2, the foot 19 willbe positioned in front of the wedge 23, thus preventing an accidentaldisplacement of the wedge, and a consequent release of the bearings ofthe axle which rotates in the box 1. When the lid has been swung into anopen position, the bearings 12 registering in the pockets 5, the wedge23 may be manipulated readily, for the purpose of rebrassing thejournal. Obviously, the spring 22 serves to maintain the foot 19normally interposed in the path of the wedge 23, thereby to prevent adisplacement of the wedge. It is to be noted that the axis of thebearings 12 is disposed below the foot 19, and consequently, should thewedge 23 exert an outward pressure against the foot 19, the lower, freeedge of the lid 8 will be swung inwardly, thereby to prevent anaccidental opening of the lid 8, by means of the wedge 23. Conversely,when the lid 8 is in a closed position, as shown in Fig. 2, the foot 19will be held in the path of the wedge 23, thereby preventingadisplacement of the wedge.

lugs 2, serve to aline the bearings 12 with the entering channels 3 ofthe slots in the lu s 2 Having thus described. the invention, what isclaimed is 1. In a device of the class described, a box; a bearingholder in the box; a lid for the box; a movable member carried by thelid; and resilient means operatively connected with the movable memberto cause the same to engage the box when the lid is closed, to disposethe member in the path of the bearing holder, when the lid is closed,whereby to prevent a displacement of the bearing holder.

2. In a device of the class described, a box; a bearing holder in thebox; a lid for the box; a pivotal connection between the lid and thebox, comprising cooperating parts effective to move the lid transverselyagainst the box when the lid is moved longitudinally; a member movableupon the lid; and resilient means connected with the lid and with themovable member, to move the lid longitudinally, and to dispose the 1novable member in the path of the bearing holder, when the lid is closed,thereby to prevent a displacement of the bearing holder.

3. In a device of the class described, a

box having a slot, the outer extremity of' which is open, the innerextremity of which is inclined toward the face of the box, the slotbeing provided, intermediate its ends, with a lateral pocket; a lidhaving a projection insertible into the outer extremity of the slotandadapted to register in the inner extremity of the slot when the lid isclosed, the projection being seated in the pocket when the lid is open;a spring-actuated member carried by the lid and engaging the box, tohold the projection in the inner extremity of the slot when the lid isclosed, the spring-actuated member moving the lid transversely, awayfrom the box when the lid is open, thereby to cause the projection toenter the pocket; and a removable detent protruding into the outerextremity ofv the slot, and engageable by the projection, to prevent adisplacement of the bearing from the slot.

4:. In a device of the class described, a box provided with a slotincluding an open,

The ears 11 upon the lid 8, being received between the entering channeland an angularly disposed receiving channel, there being a lateralpocket opposite the apex of the channels; a lid having a projectionadapted to be receivecl in the entering channel, and to fit within thereceiving channel when the lid is closed, the projection beingreceivable by the pocket, when the lid is open, there being spacedbrackets secured to the rear face of the lid; a member slidable in thebrackets; a spring engaging the slidable member and one bracket, tocause the slidable member to engage with the box, thereby to cause theprojection to move into the receiving channel, when the lid is closed,and to move into the pocket, when the lid is open; and inter engagingelements upon the movable member and upon one bracket, to prevent adisplacement of the movable member from the bearings, when the lid isopen.

5. In a device of the class described, a box having a slot, the innerextremity of which is inclined toward the face of the box, the slotbeing provided intermediate its ends with a lateral pocket; a lid havinga projection seated in the extremity of the slot, when the lid isclosed, and seated in the pocket when the lid is opened; aspring-actuated member carried by the lid and engageable by the box, tohold the projection in the extremity of the slot when the lid is closed,the spring-actuated member moving the lid transversely, when the lid isopened, thereby to cause the projection to enter the pocket; and abearing holder in the box, the spring-actuating member being interposedin the path of the bearing-holder, when the lid is closed, thereby tovprevent a displace ment of the bearing-holder.

6. In a device of the class described, a box having a slot, the outerextremity of which is open, the inner extremity of which is inclinedtoward the face of the box, the slot being provided intermediate itsends with a lateral pocket; a lid having a projection adapted to bereceived into the outer extremity of the slot, and adapted to be seatedin the inner extremity of the slot,

when the lid is closed, the projection being seated in the pocket whenthe lid is open; a spring-actuated member carried by the lid andengaging the box to hold the projection in the inner extremity of theslot, when the lid is closed, the spring-actuated member moving the lidtransversely, away from the box, when the lid is opened, thereby tocause the projection to enter the pocket; a removable detentprotrudinginto the outer extremity of the slot, and engageable by theprojection, to prevent the complete removal of the projection from theslot; a bearing holder in the box, the spring actuating member beinginterposed in the path of the hearing holder, when the lid is closed,thereby to prevent a displacement of the bearing holder.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS SMITH.

Witnesses:

A. R. WHITFIELD, A. S. SHARPTON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents eachpby addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

